Powder coating compositions

ABSTRACT

Powder coating composition comprising 4 to 20% by weight of a hexamethylolmelamine derivative and 96 to 80% by weight of a polyester having a softening point of 65* to 130* C, an acid value of 5 to 20 and an excess hydroxyl percentage of 5 to 30%, said hexamethylolmelamine derivative being at least one of etherified products of hexamethylolmelamine, the average total number of the CH3O- and RO- groups being 5.5 to 6.0 per melamine nucleus, the average number of the RO- group being 0.5 to 3.0 permelamine nucleus, wherein RO is   group or   group, R&#39;&#39; being an alkyl group having 1 to 4 carbon atoms and R&#39;&#39;&#39;&#39; being hydrogen atom or methyl group.

United States Patent lwasawa et al.

[ 5] Nov. 11, 1975 POWDER COATING COMPOSITIONS Inventors: Naozumi lwasawa; Minoru Shibata;

Tadashi Watanabe; lchiro Yoshihara, all of Hiratsuka, Japan Assignee: Kansai Paint Company, Ltd., Japan Filed: May 29, 1973 Appl. No.1 364,538

[30] Foreign Application Priority Data Ma) 31, 1972 Japan 47'54550 Ma 3 l. l972 Japan 47-54553 [52] US. Cl. 260/850; 260/4229; 260/4237; 260/4244; 260/676 R; 260/249.6; 260/856; 428/457; 428/460 Int. Cl.-' C08L 61/20; C08L 67/00 Field of Search..... 260/850, 249.6, 856, 67.6 R

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS l 2/l964 Polansky et a] 260/2496 2/1969 Dobransky 260/856 lU/l969 Koral 260/856 4/l974 Leonard 260/850 OTHER PU BLlCATlONS Powder Coating: Why--How-When, .lour. of Paint Technology, Vol. 44, Feb. i972, pp. 30-37.

Primal Examiner-Murray Tillman Assistant Examiner-J. Ziegler Attorney, Agent. or Firm-Larson, Taylor and Hinds group or group. R being an alkyl group having I to 4 carbon atoms and R" being hydrogen atom or methyl group.

10 Claims, No Drawings POWDER COATING COMPOSITIONS This invention relates to a powder coating composition, more particularly to an improved thermosetting powder coating composition containing a specific melamine derivative and a polyester.

Thermosetting powder coating compositions containing a polyester and a melamine derivative, namely melamine-polyester", have already been known. Used as the melamine derivative in the composition is a hexakisloweralkoxymethylmelamine obtained by etherifying hexakismethylolated melamine with a lower alco hol. Further used as the polyester is one having free hydroxyl groups. since it is necessary to bake the powder coating composition to subject the polyester and melamine to crosslinking.

The conventional powder coating composition incorporating the melamine-polyester is of poor curing properties and, when baked at a usual temperature of about 160 to 170C, it gives a coating film which is poor in flexibility and in solvent resistance. Accordingly, the coating composition must be baked at a temperature at least about 40 to 50C higher than the usual baking temperature. However, the high-temperature baking is not only disadvantageous from the viewpoint of heat economy but also has the serious drawback of being unapplicable to soldered products since the solder will be melted during baking. In fact, it has the fatal drawback that it is almost unapplicable to automotive components. Moreover, during baking, the coating film incorporating the melamine-polyester gives off a gas which tends to form vents when escaping from the coating film that has been rendered highly viscous, giving rise to so-called popping. The susceptibility to popping makes it impossible to apply the coating composition to a great thickness and lowers the smoothness of the coating film obtained.

To prevent the occurrence of popping, it has been known to use a mixed product obtained by etherifying hexamethylolmelamine with a mixture of lower and higher aliphatic alcohols. According to this method, the occurrence of popping reduces as the length of chain of the higher alcohol used increases. but the resistance to "blocking" lowers with the increase in the length of chain thereof. The term blocking means that particles in the coating composition coheres one another during storage. Consequently, if the occurrence of popping is reduced to a satisfactory extent, the resistance to blocking will be deteriorated markedly, rendering the powder coating composition almost unapplicable to practical use. In addition, the use of such melamine derivative impairs the resistance to solvent and flexibility, making it still necessary to bake the composition at a high temperature of at least 200C.

An object of this invention is to provide a powder coating composition from which coating films having excellent solvent resistance and flexibility can be formed at a usual baking temperature.

Another object of this invention is to provide a powder coating composition having excellent curing properties.

Another object of this invention is to provide a powder coating composition which is not susceptible to the occurrence of popping.

Another object of this invention is to provide a powder coating composition which can be applied to a great thickness.

Another object of this invention is to provide a powder coating composition capable of forming a coating film having excellent surface smoothness.

Another object of this invention is to provide a powder coating composition having an excellent resistance to blocking.

Still another object of this invention is to provide a powder coating composition which can be applied, free of any trouble. to soldered materials, especially to automotive components.

These and other objects of this invention will be apparent from the following description.

The objects of this invention can be accomplished by using, in place of the conventional melamine derivatives, a specific modified melamine conjointly with polyester in a specified proportion.

The present invention provides a powder coating composition comprising 4 to 2071 by weight of a hexamethylolmclamine derivative and 96 to 80% by weight of a polyester having a softening point of to l30C and an acid value of 5 to 20 and an excess hydroxyl percentage of about 5 to 3092, said hexamethylolmelamine derivative being at least one of etherified products of hexamethylolmelamine which have Cl-l O and RO groups substituted for the hydroxyl group in the meth ylol group of hexamethylolmelamine, the average total number of the CH -,O-- and RO-- groups being 5.5 to 6.0 per melamine nucleus, the average number of the RO--O group being 0.5 to 3.0 per melamine nucleus. wherein R is group or group, R being an alkyl group having 1 to 4 carbon atoms and R" being hydrogen atom or methyl group.

The present powder coating composition containing the above specific hexamethylolmelamine derivative and polyester can be applied to any desired thickness and easily cured at a usual baking temperature without any occurrence of popping to produce a smooth-surfaced coating film which is excellent in solvent resistance, in flexibility and in resistance to blocking.

The etherified products of hexamethylolmelamine to be used according to this invention must be those having the above-specified substituents in the specified range of number in the melamine nucleus. For instance, if the average total number of CH O-- and RO- groups per melamine nucleus (R being the same as defined before) contained in the etherified product is less than 5.5, the resulting composition will not exhibit improved solvent resistance and flexibility and is liable to cause popping during baking operation. Further even in the case where the etherified product contains 5.5 to 6.0 substituted CH O- and RO- groups per melamine nucleus on the average, the resulting composition will exhibit poor solvent resistance and low flexibility if the average number of RO-- group per melamine nucleus is less than 0.5. it the average number of the RO- group per melamine nucleus is more than 3.0, a low resistance to blocking will result, ren- 3 dering the powder coating composition ineffective to use.

The etherified products of hexamethylolmelamine to be used in this invention can be prepared by various methods. For example, the etherified product of hexamethylolmelamine is produced easily by subjecting hexakismethoxymethylmelamine with an alcohol having the formula of ROH whrein RO is as defined above to ether exchange reaction.

The alcohols to be used include alkylene glycol monoalkyl ethers having the formula of R'oincmon (R' and R" being as defined before) and cyclohexanol having the formula of Examples of the alkylene glycol monoalkyl ethers are ethylene glycol monomethyl ether, ethylene glycol monoethyl ether, ethylene glycol mono-n-propyl ether, ethylene glycol mono-iso-propyl ether, ethylene glycol mono-n-butyl ether, ethylene glycol-iso-butyl ether, ethylene glycol mono-sec-butyl ether, propylene glycol monomethyl ether, propylene glycol monoethyl ether, propylene glycol mono-n-propyl ether, propylene gly' col mono-iso-propyl ether, propylene glycol mono-nbutyl ether, propylene glycol mono-iso-propyl ether, ethylene glycol mono-sec-butyl ether, etc. The ether exchange reaction can be carried out at a temperature of not higher than 100C in the presence of a strong acid catalyst such as hydrochloric acid, nitric acid, sulfuric acid, phosphoric acid or the like. After the reaction the unreacted alcohol is removed under a reduced pressure in the presence of a weak alkali. The hexakismethoxymethylmelamine used for the reaction may preferably be pure hexakisrnethoxymethylmelamine, but it is possible to use a methylether of hexamethylolmelamine having at least 5.5 methoxy groups per melamine nucleus on the average.

The polyesters to be used in this invention can be prepared by polycondensation of a carboxylic acid with a polyhydric alcohol and are those having a softening point of 65 to 130C, an acid value of 5 to and an excess hydroxyl percentage of about 5 to 30%, preferably those having a softening point of 65 to l 15C, an acid value of 6 to 18 and an excess hydroxyl percentage of 8 to The softening point as herein referred to is determined according to .llS-K-25l3 (ring and ball method). The excess hydroxyl percentage herein used is calculated from the following equation:

Mol number of hydroxyl groups contained in the starting polyhydric Excess alcohol used hydroxyl l X 100 percentage Mol number of carboxyl groups contained in the starting carboxylic acid used produce smooth surfaced coating film. Further if the acid value of the polyester to be used is below 5, the resulting coating will be low in flexibility, solvent resistance and curing properties. Conversely, if it is higher than 20, the particles of the composition will be melted, permitting curing reaction to take place before the coating film is formed, impairing the fluidity of the film and making it impossible to obtain a coating film having smooth and glossy coating surface. ln addition, popping will occur markedly. lf the excess hydroxyl percentage of the polyester to be used is less than 5%, the absolute number of the crosslinkable functional groups is insufficient, which deteriorates the curing properties of the coating film. Conversely, if it is more than 30%, the compatibility of the resin with alkyletherified methylolmelamine will be impaired and the coating formed will be low in flexibility and gloss.

Usable as the polyester according to this invention are a wide variety of polyesters produced by the polycondensation of carboxylic acids with polyhydric alcohols, insofar as their softening point, acid value and excess hydroxyl percentage are within the ranges specified above. Examples of the carboxylic acid to be used in this invention are benzene-1,2,4-tricarboxylic acid, phthalic acid, tetrahydrophthalic acid, hexahydrophthalic acid, endobicyclo- 2,2,1 -5-heptyne-2,3-dicarboxylic acid, tetrachlorophthalic acid, succinic acid, isophthalic acid, terephthalic acid, azelaic acid, adipic acid, sebacic acid, and like carboxylic acids, anhydrides of such acids or alkyl esters thereof.

Effectively usable as the polyhydric alcohol is at least one of dihydric alcohols, trihydric alcohol and higher hydric alcohols. Examples are glycerin, trimethylolpropane, trimethylolethane, trishydroxyethyliso-cyanurate, pentaerythritol, ethylene glycol, diethylene glycol, propylene glycol, trimethylene glycol, 1,3-, 1,2- and 1,4-butanediols, heptanediol, hexanediol, octanediol, 2,2'-bis (4-cyclohexanol) propane, neopentyl glycol, 2,2,3-trimethylpentane- 1,3-diol, etc.

The softening point of the resin can be controlled by varying the proportions of the carboxylic acid and polyhydric alcohol. The excess hydroxol percentage can be controlled by suitably selecting the ratio of the dihydric alcohol to the trihydric or higher hydric alcohol in the starting composition or the ratio of the carboxylic acid to the polyhydric alcohol.

The acid value can be controlled by suitably selecting the ratio of the carboxylic acid to the polyhydric alcohol and/or the ratio of the free polycarboxylic acid to the dialkyl ester thereof.

The polyester to be used in this invention can be prepared by a usual method. For example, in the case where carboxylic acid and/or anhydride thereof and polyhydric alcohol alone are used as starting materials, the mixture of these are heated to about to 300C in the presence or absence of a small amount of solvent which is azeotropic with water to effect dehydration condensation, whereby the desired resin will be obtained. Further if dialkyl ester of dicarboxylic acid is used as carboxylic acid, the dialkyl ester and polyhydric alcohol are heated to 200 to 300C in the presence of an esterexchange reaction catalyst such as lead monoxide, fatty acid salt or naphthenate of lead, lithium hydroxide, fatty acid salt or naphthenate of lithium or the like to effect ester exchange reaction, and carboxylic acid and/or anhydride thereof are/is added to the product, followed by heating to 180 to 300C for dehydration condensation, which gives a polyester for use in this invention.

According to this invention, it is essential to conjointly use etherified product of hexamethylolmelamine specified before and the polyester having the properties specified above in the proportion of 4 to 20% by weight of the former to 96 to 80% by weight of the latter, preferably in the ratio of 5 to by weight of the former to 95 to 85% by weight of the latter. If the amount of the etherified product of hexamethylolmelamine is less than 4% by weight, low flexibility and solvent resistance will result. Conversely, if it is over by weight, the particles of the powder coating composition tend to cohere, rendering the powder coating composition no longer serviceable as such.

The powder coating composition of this invention may further incorporate therein usual pigments for coating purposes, anticissing agent, leveling agent, etc. The pigments to be used include coloring pigment and extender pigment. Examples of the coloring pigment are titanium dioxide, lead white, lithopone, zinc white, red iron oxide, red lead, vermillion, cadmium red, molybudenum red, cuprous oxide, chrome yellow, zinc chromate, chrome green, Toluidine Red, copper- Phthalocyanine Blue, copper-Phthalocyanine Green, etc. Examples of the extender pigment are calcium carbonate, talc, clay, etc. Examples of the leveling agent are ester gum, silicon oil, etc.

The powder coating composition of this invention is prepared by a usual method. For example, the etherified product of hexamethylolmelamine, polyester and a suitable solvent are mixed together uniformly, along with pigment, anticissing agent, leveling agent, and the like as desired, at a temperature of about 80 to 140C, preferably about 90 to lC by two or three rolls of the heating type, extruder or like suitable kneader, and the solvent is then removed from the mixture.

Given below are reference examples showing the processes for preparing the etherified product of hexamethylolmelamine and polyester and examples of this invention, in which the parts and percentages are all by weight.

REFERENCE EXAMPLE 1 Preparation of etherified product 1 Into a l-liter three-necked flask equipped with a stirrer and a device for removing the byproduct of methanol were placed 390 parts (1 mol) of Cymel No. 300 (hexakismethoxymethylmelamine having a purity of 95 to 97% and produced by American C yanamid C o.. same as hereinafter), 295 parts (2.5 mols) of ethylene glycol monobutyl ether and 0.67 part of 60? aqueous solution of nitric acid. The reaction system was progressively heated to a temperature of 60C and, at the same time, the pressure within the system was reduced to to mm Hg. The mixture was made to react at 60C for 3 hours while methanol resulting from the reaction as a by-product was being removed. After completion of the reaction, the reaction mixture was neutralized with 30% aqueous solution of caustic soda to a pH of 8.2, and the neutralized liquid was heated to 140C with the interior of the system maintained at a reduced pressure of 5 mm Hg for concentration to remove the unreacted ethylene glycol monobutyl ether. The resulting concentrate was filtered to remove the neutralized salt and to obtain a reaction product in the form of a transparent consistent liquid (solids: 99.5% which was found to have a viscosity of R (25C) by Gardner-Holdt bubble viscometer. To determine the chemical structure of the product, it was decomposed with phosphoric acid and analyzed by gas chromatography. At a result, the product was found to be contained 1.0 butoxyethyl group per melamine nucleus but hardly any free methylol group.

REFERENCE EXAMPLES 2 to 22 Preparation of etherified products 2 to 22 Reactions were conducted in the same manner as in Reference Example I using the compositions listed in Table 1 below to prepare etherified products 2 to 22. The reaction temperature and reaction time were as given in Table l, which also shows the properties of the etherified products obtained.

The etherified products I to 10 in Table l are all alkyletherified methylolmelamines prepared by subjecting Cymel No. 300 and ethylene glycol monoalkyl ether to ether exchange reaction. Among these, the etherified products l to S, and the etherified products 7 to 9 are alkyletherified methylolmelamines according to this invention, whereas the etherified products 6 and I0 are alkyletherified methylolmelamines other than those of this invention (comparison samples). But these 6 and 10 can be used in this invention in the mixture of the other etherified products. Further the etherified products ll to 22 are those obtained by etherifying Cymel No. 300 with alcohol (comparison samples).

Table l Material used Cymel No. 300 (parts! I (2.5 mols] Propylene glycol monoethyl ether parts) Ethylene glycol monoisopropyl ether (parts) Propylene glycol mono hutyl ether [parts] Same 132 (1.0 mol] Etherifiecl product Same Same Same Same Same 76 (1 mol) 380 (5.0 mols) 54 (0.6 mol] 450 (5.0 mols) S"! (0.5 mol) 5) (0.5 mol) I77 (1.5 mols) Table l-continued Material used 60% Nitric acid (parts) 98% Sulfuric acid (parts) 357: Hydrochloric acid (parts) Phosphoric acid (parka) Reaction temperature 1C) Reaction time 4 hours Bubble viscosity Average number of group per melamine nucleus Solids (A l Material used Etherified product Cymel No. 300 (parts) Ethanol parts) isopropunol (parts) n-Butanol (parts) see-Butanol (parts) Arnyl alcohol (parts) lsoamyl alcohol parts n-Hexanol (parts) n-Octanol (parts) Z-Ethylhexanol (parts) Lauryl alcohol parls) 60% Nitric acid (parts) Reaction temperature ("C Reaction time (hours) Bubble viscosit) Average number of RO-group per melamine nucleus 390 l mol) 92 (2 mols) Same (2.5 mols] [2 mols) Same Same Same Same (2.5 mols) I85 (2.5 mols) 176 (2 mois) Table l-continued Material used Etherified product Solids (/i) 99.9 99.8 99.8 99.5

Material used Etherified product l9 Cyrnel No. 300 parts) Same Same Same Same (parts) lparts) lsopropunol parts l n-Butanol (par sec-Butunol (parts) Amyl alcohol 1 parts l lsoarnyl alcohol (parts) nHexanol parts l n-Octanol (parts) 325 (2.5 mols) Z-Ethylhexanol (parts l Lauryl alcohol parts i 60% Nitric 0.80

acid (parts) Reaction temperature I C Reaction viscosity Average number of RO-group per melamine nucleus Solids (Al 99.6 99.4 99.3 99.0

(3.0 mols) Same Same 325 (2.5 mols) 465 (2.5 mols) REFERENCE EXAMPLE 23 Preparation of etherified product 23 Into the same flask as in Reference Example 1 were placed 390 parts (1 mol) of Cymel No. 300, 250 parts (2.5 mols) of cyclohexanol and 0.67 part of 60% aqueous solution of nitric acid. The reaction system was progressively heated to a temperature of C, with the pressure within the system reduced to 50 to mm Hg. The mixture was made to react at 55C for 5 hours while methanol resulting from the reaction as a by-product was being removed. After completion of the reaction. the reaction mixture was neutralized with 30% aqueous solution of caustic soda to a pH 8.0, and the neutralized liquid was heated to about 140C with the interior of the system maintained at a reduced pressure of 5 mm Hg for concentration to remove the unreacted cyclohexanol. The resulting concentrate was filtered to remove the neutralized salt and to obtain a reaction product in the form of a transparent consistent liquid (solids: 99.5%), which was found to have a viscosity of Z 3 (25C) by Gardner-Holdt bubble viscometer. To detennine the chemical structure of the product, it was decomposed with phosphoric acid and analyzed by gas chromatography. At a result, the product was found to be contained 1.0 cyclohexanoxy group per melamine nucleus but hardly any free methylol group.

REFERENCE EXAMPLES 24 to 27 Preparation of etherified products 24 to 27 The same procedure as in Reference Example 23 was followed except for the conditions listed in Table 2 below with respect to the amount of cyclohexanol, kind and amount of acid catalyst, reaction temperature and reaction time, whereby four kinds of etherified ptoducts 24 27 were obtained. The properties of the products are also listed in Table 2.

Table 2 Material used ill'lLl Etherified product reaction conditions 24 25 26 37 (ymel No. 300 3% Same Same Same (parts) (H) mol) C \cluhe\a|1ol (parts) I 350 500 50 1 L0 mol) (3.5 mols) (5.0 mols) (0.5 mol) (\(li Aq. soln. of nitric acid (parts) 30 0,2 Acid cata 9W: Aq. soln. of lyst sulfuric acid [parts] l.7

Phosphoric acid (parts) 0.5 Reaction temperature (C) 55 60 6t) 50 Reaction time (hr.) 53 55 3 Bubble \iscosil Z 5 X L 2 6 Solids (t l 99.5 99.0 99.: 99.6 Number of cyclohetanoxy 0.6 2 6 3.5 0.2 group per melamine nucleus 30 -continued Acid \alue l".4 REFERENCE EXAMPLE 28 Preparation of polyester A Into a reactor equipped with a stirrer, thermomether REFERENCE EXAMPLE 30 and separator were placed 194 parts 1.0 mol) of dimepreparaion f polyester C thyleterephthalate. l46 parts (1.4 mols) of neopentyl glycol, l74.6 parts (0.9 mol) of dimethylisophthalate. Dimethylttil' phthtllnte sxx parts (2.0 mols) 1.6 parts (l.4 mols) of 1,3-butylene glycol and 27.6 Neopentyl glycol 1561 parts (1.5 mols) parts (03 mol) of glycerin, and the mixture was melted 5 I Pentaerythritol 13.6 parts ((Ll mol) by heating. The molten mlxture was further heated with marge stirring to a temperature of l60C, whereupon 1.0 part lwvllllmliC acid P'-'" mull of lead oleate was added. The mixture was further heated to 240C and maintained at this temperature for 1 hour. In the meantime, methanol produced as a by- A mixture of the above composition was reacted in product was removed through the separator. Subsethe Same manner as Reference Example quently, 1 16.2 parts (0.70 mol) of isophthalic acid and 43.8 parts (0.3 mol) of adipic acid were placed into the reactor, this reducing the temperature to about I80C. When the temperature reached 240C again through continuous heating, 30 parts of xylene was slowly added to the resulting mixture. The system was maintained at the same temperature for 2 hours. ln the meanwhile, water produced as a by-product was separated from xylene by the separator and removed.

After leaving the reaction system to stand at 240C for 2 hours, the internal pressure of the reactor was reduced to remove xylene, followed by cooling. While in a fluid state, the contents were taken out.

The resin obtained (hereinafter referred to as polyester A") had a softening point of 78C, an excess hydroxyl percentage 12.1% and an acid value of 7.].

Reference Example 29 Preparation of polyester B 388 parts (2.0 mols) Dimethylterephthalate 135 parts l.5 mols] l.3-Butylene glycol Ethylene glycol 93 parts (L5 molsl Trimethylolethane 36 parts (0.3 mol) Lead octenoate l part Phthalic anhydride 148 parts 4 L0 moll Excess hydroxyl percentage The resin obtained (hereinafter referred to as polyester C had the following properties:

Softening point C Excess hydroxyl percentage 6.7% Acid \alue l5.2

REFERENCE EXAMPLE 3] Preparation of polyester D Dimethylterephthulate Ethylene glycol l .3-Butylene glycol 38% parts (200 mols) I24 parts [2.00 molsl parts L00 mol) Trimethylolpropane 67 parts (0.50 mol) Litharge 1 part Phthalic anhydride I48 parts L00 mol) Adipic acid 43.8 parts (0.30 mol) Xylene 30 parts Softening point Excess hydroxyl percentage Acid value REFERENCE EXAMPLE 32 Preparation of polyester E Dimeth l terephthalate 242 .5 parts 1 1.25 mols I -continued -continued Neopentyl g1 col 239 parts (2.30 mols) (il \cerin 276 parts (030 mol) lrimethylolethane 120 parts 1.00 mol) Litharge 1 part Lithium uleatc 1 part lsnphthalic acid 132.0 parts S0 molt Hex-ah Llrophthalic \lene 30 parts aphydnde 27-1 parts 1.80 niols) Xylene 30 parts A mixture of the above composition was reacted in the same manner as in Reference Example 28.

The resin obtained (hereinafter referred to as polyester E") had the following properties:

Softening point 71C Excess hylrrnyl percentage 2-1.6; Acid \alue 16.3

REFERENCE EXAMPLE 33 Preparation of polyester F Dimethylterephthalate 349 parts 1.80 mols) Neopent \l glycol 23) parts (2.30 mols) Ghcerin 92 parts 1.00 mol) Lead oleate 1 part lsophthalic acid 133 parts (0.80 mol) Adipic acid 65.6 parts (0.45 mol) Xylene 30 parts A mixture of the above composition was reacted exactly in the same manner as in Reference Example 28.

The resin obtained (hereinafter referred to as polyester F) had the following properties:

Softening point 76C Excess hydroxyl percentage 24.6% Acid value 7.4

REFERENCE EXAMPLE 34 Preparation of polyester G lsophthalic acid 249 parts (1.5 mols) Phthalic anhydride 222 parts 1.50 mols) Neopentyl glycol 208 parts (200 mols) 2.2'-bis(4-cyclohexanohpropane 156 parts (0.65 mol) Glycerin 50.6 parts (055 mol) Softening point 82C Excess hydroxyl percentage 15.892 Acid value 16.7

REFERENCE EXAMPLE Preparation of polyester H Dimethylterephthalate 427 parts (2.20 mols) Propylene gl \col 175 parts (2.30 mols) 1.6-Hex2me glycol 59 parts (0.50 mol) A mixture of the above composition was reacted ex actly in the same manner as in Reference Example 28.

The resin obtained (hereinafter referred to as polyester H") had the following properties:

Softening point l 12C Excess h \dro\ \l percentage 83% Acid \alue 7.7

REFERENCE EXAMPLE 36 Preparation of polyester 1 (Comparison example) Dimethylterephthalate 223 parts 1.15 muls) Neopent glycol 208 parts (2.00 mols) Trimeth 'lolethane 156 parts 1.30 mols) Lithium oleate l part Hexahydrophthalic anh dride 274 parts 1.80 mols) Xylene 30 parts A mixture of the above composition was reacted exactly in the same manner as in Reference Example 28.

The resin obtained (hereinafter referred to as polyester 1") had the following properties:

Softening point 74C Excess h droxyl percentage 3 3 .99; Acid value 18.4

REFERENCE EXAMPLE 37 Preparation of polyester J (Comparison example) Dimethylterephthalate 407 parts (2.10 mols) Ncopentyl glycol 156 parts (1.50 mols) 2.2'-his(4-cyclohexanohpropane 360 parts 1.50 mols) Trimethylolethane 60 parts (0.50 mol] Lietherge l part losphthalic acid 199 parts 1.20 mols) Xylene 35 parts A mixture of the above composition was reacted exactly in the same manner as in Reference Example 28.

The resin obtained (hereinafter referred to as polyester J") had the following properties:

Softening point C Excess hydroxyl percentage 15.071 Acid value 14.3

REFERENCE EXAMPLE 38 Preparation of polyester K (Comparison example) Dimethyltercphthalate 388 parts (2.0 mols) Ethylene glycol 1146 parts (30 mols) Trimethylolpropane 53.6 parts (0.4 mol) Lead oleale 1 part Atlipic acid parts 1.3 mols) A mixture of the above composition was reacted exactly in the same manner as in Reference Example 28.

15 The resin obtained (hereinafter referred to as polyester K") had the following properties:

Softening point (10C Excess hydroxyl percentage 91% Acid value l4.2

REFERENCE EXAMPLE 39 Preparation of polyester L (Comparison example) Dimethylterephthalate 582 parts (3 mols) Exthylene glycol I24 parts (2 mols) l.3-Butylene glycol 90 parts l mol) Trimethylolpropane 53.6 parts (0.4 mol) Lead octenoate 1 part Adipic acid 43.8 parts (03 mol) Xylene 30 parts A mixture of the above composition was reacted exactly in the same manner as in Reference Example 28.

The resin obtained (hereinafter referred to as polyester L) had the following properties:

Softening point 'JlC Excess hydroxyl percentage 9. l 7: Acid value 2.5

REFERENCE EXAMPLE 40 Preparation of polyester M (Comparison example) A mixture of the above composition was reacted exactly in the same manner as in Reference Example 28.

The resin obtained (hereinafter referred to as polyester M) had the following properties:

Softening point 83C Excess hydroxyl percentage 10.5% Acid value .6

REFERENCE EXAMPLE 41 Preparation of polyester N (Comparison example) Dimethylterephlhalate 383.0 parts (2.0 mols) Ethylene glycol 192.2 parts (3.] mols) Trimethylolpropane 268 parts (02 mol) Lead oleate l part Phthalic anhydride 148.0 parts [.0 mol) Adipic acid 43.8 parts (0.3 mol) Xylene 30 parts A mixture of the above composition was reacted exactly in the same manner as in Reference Example 28.

The resin obtained (hereinafter referred to as polyester N) had the following properties:

Softening point 95C Excess hydroxyl percentage 3.0)?

-continued Acid value EXAMPLES Each of the etherified products 1 27 (including the comparison samples) and one of the polyester obtained in Reference Examples were mixed together as shown in Table 3 below to obtain a composition, to which were added 50 parts of titanium dioxide pigment and 1.5 parts of ketone resin of the cyclohexane type (trade mark: ARON KR", product of Mitsuitoatsu Co., Ltd., Japan) serving as a leveling agent. The resulting composition was uniformly mixed and melted at lOC over a period of 20 minutes by an experimental heat roll mill having a roll diameter of 8.8 cm. Subsequently, the molten mixture was pulverized by a hammer mill into a fine powder, which was screened with a lOO-mesh sieve to obtain a pigmented powder coating composition. In Table 3 Example No. l 23 are Examples according to this invention, and Example No. 24 50 are Comparison Examples.

Example or Polyester Etherified melamine Comparison Kind Parts by Kind Parts by Example weight weight Example I A 90 1 I0 2 A 90 3 l0 3 A 90 3 l0 4 F 90 4 l0 5 A 90 5 l0 6 E 95 7 5 7 G 85 8 l5 8 A 80 9 2t) 9 A 90 4 ll) 10 B 90 1 l5 1 l C 90 l 7.5 12 D 90 l 5 l3 H 90 6/10 5/5 14 A 90 Cymel 5/5 No. 300/25 l5 D 90 23 lll l6 A 95 24 l0 17 H 80 35 l0 18 F 90 23 19 G 90 2 3 l5 20 C 90 23 7.5 2l B 90 23 5 22 A 90 /27 /5 23 E 90 Cymel 5/5 Comp. Ex.

24 A 90 6 I0 25 A 90 1U 10 26 A 95 Cymel 5 N0. 300 27 A 90 Cymel l0 No. 300 28 A 80 Cymel 20 No. 300 2'4 K 90 l I0 30 l 90 23 l0 31 N 90 l H) 32 L 90 1 l0- 33 A 97.5 t 2.5 34 M )0 l H] 35 A )(l l l l0 36 A )0 l2 I0 37 A )0 l3 I0 38 A 90 l4 I0 39 A )0 l5 ll] 40 A 90 lb ltl 4| A )0 l7 ll) 42 A 90 l8 It) 43 A 90 19 It! 44 A J0 20 ll) 45 A 2 l ltl 46 A )0 2 2 ll) 47 A 90 l l 20 48 C 90 l l 10 49 A I) 5 -continuedTable 3 Each of the pigmented powder coating composition obtained in Examples was applied to polished steel plates, 0.8 mm in thickness, by an electrostatic coating method to stepwisely varing thicknesses. The samples were baked for 30 minutes at 180C and 200C respectively. These samples were used for the measurement of the thickness pennitting popping. Each of the pigmented powder coating composition obtained in Examples was coated to such thickness that the coating would be about 80 p. in thickness when hardened on polished mild steel plate. The samples were baked for 18 The tests and evaluations listed in Table 4 were made according to the following methods:

Solvent-insolubles: An unpigmented powder coating composition pre- 5 pared by themethod shown as below was applied to a glass plate to a thickness of 2 mm by a knife coater and the coated plate was baked at a specified temperature (given in Table 4) for 30 minutes. About 0.5 g of the coating film thus cured was peeled off, placed in a cyl lindrical filter paper No. A (Toyo filter Paper Company Limited, Japan) with acetone as an extracting 1 solvent and subjected to extraction for hours by an extractor. The resulting residue was thereafter dried at 60C to a constant weight with a vacuum drier. The

weight of the cured coating film was measured before and after extraction to calculate the amount of solvent insolubles (in percentage) from the following equation. The result is given in Table 4.

30 minutes at 180C and 200C respectively. These 30 B C D samples were used for the determination of the propers q m 100 ties of the coating films. The results are given in Table 4.

Table 4 Sample Solvent- Popping film Gloss value Resistance Erichsen test Resistance No. insoluhles thickness to gasoline (mm) of coating (kl (u) Comp. to 1 80C 200C 180C 200C 1 80C 200C 1 80C 200C 1 80C 200C blocking 1 80.1 92.2 160 145 93 94 2B B 7 7 Good 9 85.2 96.8 135 120 90 91 28 B 7 7 10 83.8 94.1 150 130 92 92 28 B 7 7 11 79.3 90.0 150 135 96 93 3B 13 6.2 7 12 78.6 90.2 170 150 93 92 3B 13 5.8 7

13 81.4 93.8 165 145 95 94 2B B 7 7 14 80.6 92.2 150 130 96 95 3B B 7 7 15 78.5 94.3 160 140 95 93 2B F 7 7 16 75.5 93.3 155 140 93 92 28 F 7 7 17 78.1 92.8 155 140 93 93 B F 6.5 7 18 82.3 96.6 135 120 90 91 2B F 7 7 19 80.0 95.3 150 130 92 92 28 F 7 7 20 73.3 91.1 160 140 96 92 2B HB 6.5 7 21 78.0 90.8 165 150 93 91 38 B 6.0 7 22 77.7 93.2 160 140 95 93 23 HB 7 7 23 80.2 92.7 150 135 95 94 33 B 6.5 1.5 24 83.2 95.0 15 5 135 93 92 B F 7 7 Poor 25 62.3 77.2 135 115 92 93 63 53 0.3 1.5 Good 26 55.6 70.1 110 75 83 61 63 58 0.2 0.6 27 60.2 75.3 75 55 64 40 68 58 0.4 0.8 28 70.6 81.6 50 40 52 36 38 B 0.7 2.1 29 78.5 89.2 145 155 93 91 3B 28 6.5 7 P00! 30 84.6 95.3 40 38 21 HB H 7 5.7 066d 31 54.5 74.6 155 130 93 92 68 58 0.4 1.1 32 53.7 70.6 155 135 91 90 6B 6B 0.2 0.6 33 55.1 67.2 160 150 96 94 68 58 0.3 0.9 34 85.l 94.1 60 51 42 B HB 7 7 35 61.7 79.2 80 85 61 6B 5B 0.5 1.0 36 60.8 77.4 85 60 92 58 63 58 0.4 0.8 37 62.3 78.4 90 91 63 6B 5B 0.5 0.9 38 61.9 81.4 110 92 6B 6B 0.3 1.1 39 62.1 78.1 65 93 87 6B 5B 0.6 0.9 40 63.4 79.1 70 94 88 65 65 0.7 0.9 41 62.5 78.1 100 65 9 81 68 63 0.6 0.9 42 63.2 77.1 80 92 91 6B 6B 0.7 0.9 43 63.8 80.1 95 93 94 68 63 06 1.2 P00! 44 61.4 79.4 155 120 94 93 65 68 0.5 1.5 45 60.4 78.6 105 96 93 6B 6B 0.5 1.2 46 59.3 79.1 165 130 90 87 68 68 04 1.6 47 76.2 85.5 60 40 64 48 68 0.7 3.6 (166d 48 61.4 78.8 90 65 93 75 68 68 0.3 0.9 49 57.2 72.4 125 94 91 68 68 0.2 07 P00! 50 81.3 92.6 70 55 62 51 B HB 6.5 7.0 G660 Note: "I lMaxirnum coating film thickness which is observed no popping. the same as hereinafter.

19 wherein A is weight of sample before extraction, B is weight of filter paper after extraction. C is weight of sample after extraction and D is weight of filter paper.

The above unpigmented powder coating composition was prepared as follow;

Each of the etherified products l 27 and one of the polyester obtained in Reference Examples were mixed together as shown in Table 3 above to obtained a composition. to which was added 1.5 parts of the leveling agent (ARON KR). The resulting composition was conducted in the same manner as in Examples.

Erichsen test:

Conducted according to .llS-Z-2247. The greater the numerical value listed, the higher is the flexibility.

Gloss value:

According to JlS-K-5400, 6.7.

Resistance to gasoline:

The test plate was immersed in gasoline at 20C for 24 hours and then taken out, whereupon the pencil hardness of the immersed portion was measured at 20C according to JlS-K5400, 6. l4. The higher the pencil hardness, the better is the resistance to solvent.

Resistance of coating composition to blocking: 5.0 g of the pigment powder coating composition obtained in Example was placed into a test tube of mm in diameter and left to stand at 40C for 24 hours. If the sample returned to the original fine powder state when thereafter taken out of the tube, it was evaluated as good. If the resistance to blocking is good, the particles of the powder will not fuse during storage.

What we claim is:

1. Powder coating composition comprising in powder form 4 to by weight of a hexamethylolmelamine derivative and 96 to 80% by weight of a polyester having a softening point of 65 to lC, an acid value of 5 to 20 and an excess hydroxyl percentage of 5 to 30%, said hexamethylolmelamine derivative being at least one of etherified products of hexamethylolmelamine which have CH O, and RO- groups substituted for the hydroxyl group in the methylol group of hexamethylolmelamine, the average total number of the CH;,O and RO groups being 5.5 to 6.0 per melamine nucleus, the average number of the RO group being 0.5 to 3.0 per malamine nucleus, wherein R0 is group or CHI-CH2 group, R being an alkyl group having 1 to 4 carbon atoms and R" being hydrogen atom or methyl group; said polyester being polycondensation product of polycarboxylic acid with polyhydric alcohol wherein said polycarboxylic acid is at least one member selected from the group consisting of benzene l .2.4-tricarboxylic acid, phthalic acid, tetrahydrophthalic acid. hexahydrophthalic acid, endobicyclo-2,2,LS-heptyne-Z, 3- dicarboxylic acid, tetrachlorophthalic acid, succinic acid. isophthalic acid, terephthalic acid, azelaic acid. adipic acid, sebacic acid, anhydrides of such acids and alkyl esters thereof; and said polyhydric alcohol being at least one member selected from the group consisting of glycerin, trimethylolpropane, trimethylolethane. trishydroxyethyliso-cyanurate. pentaerythritol, ethylene glycol, diethylene glycol, propylene glycol, trimethylene glycol, l,3-, l,2- and 1,4- butanediols, heptanediol, hexanediol, octanediol, 2,2'-bis(4-cyclohexanol) propane, neopentyl glycol, and 2,2,3-trimethylpentane-l, 3-diol.

2. The powder coating composition according to claim 1, in which said RO group is group.

3. The powder coating composition according to claim 2, in which said group is ROCH CH O group.

4. The powder coating composition according to claim 3, in which R'OCH CH- O- group is CH OCH CH O group.

5. The powder coating composition according to claim 1, in which said RO- group is CH HCO- roup.

g 6. The powder coating composition according to claim I, in which said average number of the RO group is 1.0 to 3.0 per melamine nucleus.

7. The powder coating composition according to claim 1, in which said polyester has a softening point of 65 to l l5C, an acid value of 6 to 18 and an excess hydroxyl percentage of 8 to 25%.

8. The powder coating composition according to claim 1, in which said composition comprises 5 to I57: by weight of the hexamethylolmelamine derivative and 95 to by weight of the polyester.

9. The powder coating composition according to claim 1, in which said composition further contains a pigment.

10. An article coated with a coating film obtained from the powder coating composition in claim I. 

1. POWDER COMPOSITION COMPRISING IN POWDER FORM 4 TO 20% BY WEIGHTOF A HEXAMETHYLOLMELAMINE DERIVATIVE AND 96 TO 80% BY WEIGHT OF POLYESTER HAVING A SOFTENING POINT OF 65* TO 130*C, AN ACID VALUE OF 5 TO 20 AND AN EXCESS HYDROXYL PERCENTAGE OF 5 TO 30%, SAID HEXAMETHYLOLMELAMINE DERIVATIVE BEING SAT LEAST ONE OF ETHERIFIED PRODUCTS OF HEXAMETHYLOLMELAMINE WHICH HAVE CH3O- AND RO- GROUPS SUBSTITUTED FOR THE HYDROXYL GROUP IN THE METHYLOL GROUP OF HEXAMETHYLOLMELAMINE, THE AVERAGE TOTAL NUMBER OF THE CH3O- AND ROGROUPS BEING 5.5 TO 6.0 PER MELAMINE NUCLEUS, THE AVERAGE NUMBER OF THE RO- GROUP BEING 0.5 TO 3.0 PER MALAMINE NUCLEUS,WHEREIN RO IS
 2. The powder coating composition according to claim 1, in which said RO- group is
 3. The powder coating composition according to claim 2, in which said
 4. The powder coating composition according to claim 3, in which R''OCH2CH2O- group is CH3OCH2CH2O- group.
 5. The powder coating composition according to claim 1, in which said RO- group is
 6. The powder coating composition according to claim 1, in which said average number of the RO- group is 1.0 to 3.0 per melamine nucleus.
 7. The powder coating composition according to claim 1, in which said polyester has a softening point of 65* to 115*C, an acid value of 6 to 18 and an excess hydroxyl percentage of 8 to 25%.
 8. The powder coating composition according to claim 1, in which said composition comprises 5 to 15% by weight of the hexamethylolmelamine derivative and 95 to 85% by weight oF the polyester.
 9. The powder coating composition according to claim 1, in which said composition further contains a pigment.
 10. An article coated with a coating film obtained from the powder coating composition in claim
 1. 